Improved gauge-frame foe slitting raw hides



@niiet tetes geiser @frn JAMES HOFFMAN, OF BELVIDERE,

- n A'Leners Parmi: No. 78,092, dated May 19, 186s.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAL7 CONCERN: 1

Beit known that I, JAMES HOFFMAN, of Belvidere, in the county of Warren,and Statehof New Jersey,

`have invented a. new and improved Gauge-Frame forA Slitting `Row Hides;and 1 do hereby.declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, which vwill enable others skilledin the art to makeend use the same,.rei`ercnce being had to the accompanying drawings,forming pa-rt of this specification.

The figure is a perspective view of my improved gauge-frame. l K

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved machine, by theuse of which raw hides may be slit orhalved much more conveniently andaccurately, and with much more rapidity thanis possible when the work isdone in the'ordinary manner; and it consists in a gauge-frame groovedlongitudinally along-its entire length, and supported upon feet ofsuitable height, and in the combination of a slotted spring with thesaid gauge-frame, as hereinafter more fully described.

A is a block, plank, or freme'of suiiicient length to allow a raw hidetohe hung over it longitudinally.

The block or frame A is supported upon legs B of suitable height, orby-other suitable or convenientwmeans, and is groevedlongitudinallyralong it'supper edge or side, as shown in theifigure,said groovebeing et'. snicient breadth to receive the back of theslitting-knife, and of sufHcient depth to guideV the 'said -knife as itis moved along, slitting the hide longitudinally, or dividing it intotwo equal parts. C is a spring, one end of which is securely attached tothe end of the block or frame A, and the other or free end of which issol formed as to lie along the upper'or grooved edge ofthe said'frame A,and is slotted to correspond with the groove insaid'framef .as shown inthe drawings. A

In using the machine, the VtaiLof the hide isldrewn beneathv the'slottedendV of the spring C, which holds the said. end of the said hide whilethe slitting-knife is being used. i

' I elaimns new, and desire to secnreby Letters Patent- 1'. Grooving theupper edge of'the frame or plank A, upon which the raw hide is suspended'longitudinally substantially as herein shown and described, and furthepurpose set forth. i 2. The combination'of thewslotted spring C withtheA grooved Vframe or\ pla nk A,substnntinlly us herein shownunddescribed, and for the purpose set forth. v

3. Slitting raw hides by suspending them over e frame, A, groovedlongitudinally/along its upper edge, to guide the slitting-knife,substantially as herein shown and described, and-'for the purposesettortli. V

JAMES HOFFMAN. Witnesses:

WILLIAM HOLLANDElVt, 4 CHRISTIAN' KRAUSS;

